The 2012 Hampton Roads Solar Tour

2012 Solar Home Tour - SouthSide, 6 October 2012

Intro and map –
Note: An address for each location will be provided after registration.
There is no Bus tour this year.
 

1S. Ernie Morgan Center - The Southside tour begins here
  The Center will be open only from 9 AM to Noon.

Richard Good of Solar Services will be giving a special presentation on solar energy at 9 AM

Features: PV system, daylighting, reused materials, eco-friendly décor, EcoGarden, straw-bale room.

PV system provides approximately 40% of the Center’s electrical needs. Four sun tubes and numerous windows take advantage of day-lighting. Reused materials were utilized throughout, including recycled linoleum, carpeting made of recycled plastic bottles, wallpaper from old posters and a hardwood floor reclaimed from an old pier. Low-flow faucets have been installed in each restroom, and programmable thermostats in two zones of the building help regulate heating/cooling for increased energy efficiency. The Center was recently painted with no-VOC paints. The EcoGarden showcases green gardening techniques - native plants, rain barrels, rain gardens, a compost demonstration area, a pervious paver walkway and passive heating/cooling through the use of vegetation. An office with three straw-bale walls is available for viewing, with displays to showcase the depth of insulation and the actual bales of straw.

2S. Team Tidewater Design Studio - Team Tidewater is a collaboration between Hampton University’s architects and Old Dominium University’s engineers to design build their entry to the Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon competition. 

3S. McElroy Home - Features: solar hot water, PV system, a green roof and a rainwater cistern.

Pre-heat temperature of the solar hot water heater is 110F in the winter, over 140F in the summer. The panel system measures solar energy captured by the system.  With the federal tax break, the renewable energy certificate (REC) and the offset of natural gas, the system should pay for itself within 7 years.  The PV system makes 3400 W at peak sun and provides about 40% of monthly electric needs. The system should pay for itself within 11 years.  The green roof should have a lifetime of over 50 years and saves about 20% of air-conditioning bill. The 3000-gallon cistern collects an estimated 80,000 gallons of rainwater per year.   (More information at http://www.the-mcelroys.com/ourgreenhouse/

4S. Delhaise/Amundsen Home - This home has a PV solar electric system of 21 panels, large enough to nearly eliminate the electric bill from the utility.  The home also has a Geo-Thermal heating and cooling system. This system replaces the downstairs furnace and air conditioner and pumps heat from the ground in the winter and cooling from the ground in the summer.  There is also a solar water heater consisting of two collectors on the rear roof with the tank in the attic.

NOTE: only available from 10Am to 1PM

5S. Fitts House - Features: passive solar design. 

This home was designed in 1978 for energy efficiency and focuses on passive solar heating.  Large south-facing windows in most rooms bring sunlight and solar heat inside during winter months.  Fixed overhangs shade these same windows in the summer months.  At night and on cloudy days, insulated roller shades conserve energy loss thru the glass. 

The property was a naturally landscaped garden prior to building the home and very little was disturbed to construct the home. 

Since 1978, the heat pump HVAC heating and cooling system has been upgraded to a much more energy efficient model. 

6S. Good Home - Features: PV system, solar hot water heat to home and pool.

One of the first grid tied systems in Virginia using amorphous silicon panels made by Solarex in Williamsburg before B.P. purchased them and shut the plant down.

7S. Solar Services, Inc – Features: Solar PV, Solar hot water, Solar pool heating, High efficiency heat pumps, Gray-water recycling.

The PV system provides “net zero” electrical capability in this efficient building.  There is a digital control system in the office remote from the system. A solar hot water system is installed in the office with BTU meter and digital control.  This solar hot water system is the first in the country to be registered for the sale of renewable energy credits. For heating/cooling high efficiency mini split heat pump units were used. Recycled carpet and low VOC paints were applied when we finished out the building. We also have a demonstration gray-water recycling unit in the office and a demonstration roof is set up in the office to show a solar pool heating system.

8S. Kanz House - Features: Solar hot water, Solar pool heat. 

Having solar hot water saves 1/3 off my gas bill and lowers my carbon footprint.  I have more hot water then I have ever had.  The solar pool heat extends my swimming season from April to October.  Because my swim season is extended I get more pleasure from my investment.

9S. Jacobs House - Features: Passive house, Solar PV, Solar Hot Water, Rainwater cistern, Atmospheric Drinking Water Generator. Exterior Insulated Roll Shutters

The passive solar house was designed and built by Jim & Genny Jacobs in 1982 as part of a HUD competition.  The goal was to design a house which any contractor, using conventional materials, could build for under $40 per sq. ft.. Although the competition was not won, the goal was met (actual cost for the1388 sq. ft., 3 bedroom, 2 bath house, was under $30/sq. ft. but Jim & Genny supplied all the labor), providing a comfortable, self-maintaining living space for the past 29 years.

It uses conventional materials, cinder block, wood flooring, casement windows, arranged in a slightly unconventional manner.  All windows are on the south side (actually, there's one window on the West side). There are no openings in the north wall. Walls are built of cinder block using "block bond" surface bonding and filled with sand for thermal mass.  Insulation is on the outside of the cinder block walls, itself covered by conventional vinyl siding.  The roof is white Ondura with sheet insulation on the underside of the roof rafters to vent and cool the attic.  Southern windows are shaded during the summer by means of a removable 80% shade cloth, supported by an 8 ft. overhang extension of the roof trusses. During the winter, the shade cloth is removed, letting light well into the house. At night, exterior insulated roll shutters (which also provide some protection during high winds) are lowered to retain heat.  Under the windows are solar space heaters (covered by tan awning material during the summer) which, during the winter, draw air under the insulated floor from vents in the floor on the north side of the house, setting up a natural interior circulation system during the day. Cooling during the summer is provided by shade trees, the white roof, heavy insulation and a conventional central air conditioner. One or more white roll shutters can be lowered to block summer sun if needed.

Jacobs House Continued - 14 Canadian Solar, 200W PV modules with Enphase M215 microinverters, were recently installed (by Suntern Solar http://www.suntern.com/suntern.html) on the office / garage building adjacent to the house, with extra support rails for future expansion and testing of new CyboInverters and higher capacity modules in the fall/winter of 2012.  Current solar electricity production averages about 10 KWHr. per day (https://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/public/systems/mnVz25723 for real-time viewing).

The rainwater system collects water from all the building gutters and directs it through a series of channels to a 2000 gal. cistern which is used for watering plants during dry spells. A second cistern is planned for water to flush toilets.

10S. Wijtmans House – Features – PV, Ground source heat pump

Solar Hot Water has been a great investment.  Before installing the solar hot water after two showers we would always run out of hot water.  Since installing solar hot water we have not ran out of hot water one time. I have noticed a decrease in my bill and can't wait to install solar electric.

14S. Schein Home - Features: Eco-renovation, PV system, solar water heater, low-impact cooling, recycled insulation, energy-efficient windows and roof, unique garden, low construction waste, rain barrels.

The PV system provides about ½ of the power needs. Solar water heating provides almost all of hot water requirements. All major rooms have ceiling fans. Recycled denim is used over the insulation layer. There is a drought resistant garden; the grass was removed and all trees and shrubs are drought tolerant. Recycled tire mulch is used in the entire garden and a composter for garden waste. Bricks from the demolition (prior to the addition) are used in various places in the garden and the neighbor’s yard as well. All metal from the demolition was recycled, some sold. The main part of the house and the bath in the master suite is fully handicapped accessible.

16S. The Learning Barge (Elizabeth River Project)
Town Point Park, Otter Berth on Oct 6 from 10AM to 3PM

The Learning Barge is a collaborative design and fabrication initiative of students from the University of Virginia School of Architecture and School of Engineering and Applied Science that incorporates research and sustainable design principles to promote environmental education on the Elizabeth River, one of the most polluted estuaries of the Chesapeake Bay. The floating field station is powered by solar and wind energy, collects rainwater, filters gray water with native plants and utilizes recycled and renewable materials.

The integrated educational component for K-12 school children offers opportunities to experience the river firsthand and engage in hands-on exploration and learning. The project is a collaboration with the Elizabeth River Project.  The barge travels throughout the Elizabeth River making frequent daily stops to allow students to board the barge for the educational portion of the project.

17S Lynhaven River House - (owner name not available for release at this time)
A modest home on the western branch of the Lynnhaven River, this recently completed project is slated for LEED Platinum certification and is designed to achieve 'net-zero-energy' performance.  The 12 kW PV system includes back-up power service via sealed batteries & and natural gas-fired generator.  Other highlights are integrated solar thermal, ground source heat pump with ERV, living roofs, full potable water harvest system, FSC certified woods and native conservation landscaping.

The 2012 Hampton Roads Solar Tour is sponsored by: